Collections : [West Virginia and Regional History Center]

West Virginia and Regional History Center

West Virginia & Regional History Center
West Virginia University
P.O. Box 6069
1549 University Avenue
Morgantown, WV 26506
Primary Collecting Areas:
West Virginia and Appalachia History and Culture
Description:
The West Virginia & Regional History Center preserves and provides access to the records that document the history and culture of the state and the central Appalachian region. The Center is part of West Virginia University Libraries.
POC: Lori Hostuttler
Phone: (304) 293-3536
Start Over Repository West Virginia and Regional History Center Date range 1855 Subjects Photography

Gary Weiner, Collector, Papers, 1773/1938 0.2 Linear Feet Summary: 2 in.

Weiner, Gary S., 1942-2007
Autograph book (1872-1887) of Jennie Robinson of Clarksburg with inscriptions from her friends. A letter from Martha Perry of Staunton, VA (1 March 1888) to Jennie Robinson of Clarksburg, WV congratulating her on her upcoming wedding. Letters from the Neale family, relatives of Thomas J. (Stonewall) Jackson. A letter from Thomas Neale of Parkersburg (6 June 1833) to Lewis Maxwell of Lewis County inquiring about Thomas Jackson and his brother. A letter from W. R. Neale at Mossy Creek, TN (23 February 1864) to his uncle mentioning Stonewall Jackson and the Civil War. There is a photo album of 1874 WVU graduate Charles Wesley Lynch of Wheeling, WV including photos of family, classmates and teachers. There is also a 1927-28 WVU schedule of courses, a 1927 WVU music convocation program, a 1928 WVU football scorecard, a facsimile of the (20 August 1773) Maryland Journal and the Baltimore Advertiser, and a 1938 history of Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church of Grafton, WV. See also A&M 3729.
  1. West Virginia and Regional History Center

McChesney Brothers, Civil War Letters, 1853/1870 .1 Linear Feet 1 in. (3 folders)

Five letters concerning the death of Lt. Robert McChesney. 1) St. George, VA, July 2, 1861 from Mary Lee; 2) Holly Wood, VA, Jan. 26, 1863 from Bie Hansbrough; 3) Staunton, VA, May 6, 1889 from W.D. Reynolds; 4) King's River, CA, Dec. 28, 1883 from H. Maxwell; 5) St. George, WV, 10 June 1884 from H. Maxwell. There is also a letter authored by Alexander McChesney, Warm Springs, February 22, 1864, addressed to his mother. Finally, there is a letter to Robert McChesney from his commanding officer Capt. J.R. McNutt, 1 May 1861; and Robert McChesney's militia commission signed 14 May 1853 by Governor Joseph Johnson appointing him 1st Lt. 5th Cavalry Regiment, 13th Brigade, Virginia Militia. Lt. Robert McChesney was killed 29 June 1861 in Tucker County when Federal soldiers ambushed his unit. Thus, he is possibly the first Confederate soldier to die in the Civil War.
  1. West Virginia and Regional History Center

Seneca Glass Company Records, 1840/1985 31.63 Linear Feet 11 document cases, 5 in. each; 15 records cartons, 15 in. each; 5 large flat storage boxes, 3 in. each; 1 flat storage box, 1 1/2 in.; 2 rolled storage tubes, 6 in.; 16 ledgers, 6 ft. 5 in.

Seneca Crystal

Catalogs, reports, contracts, correspondence, blueprints, drawings, certificates, deeds, and photographs of Seneca Glass Company, a Morgantown glass manufacturer noted for its production of handmade lead crystal glassware. The materials of this collection give insight into some of the daily activities of the company and its union such as determination of wages, settling of labor grievances, plans for expansion and modernization, productivity statistics, and stock inventories. Specifically noteworthy are the earliest certificate of incorporation in West Virginia, original construction blueprints by Elmer F. Jacobs, and early catalogs of the company's product line. There are also extensive addenda of Seneca Glass records that were acquired in 2005, 2019, and 2021; a contents list for the 2005 addendum can be found in the control folder onsite.

  1. West Virginia and Regional History Center

Stiles Family Oil and Mining Company Records, 1837/1951 1.46 Linear Feet 1 ft. 5.5 in. (3 document cases, 5 in. each); (1 document case, 2.5 in.)

Stiles family (Volcano, WV)
Papers, maps, and photos of William C. Stiles and Samuel B. Stiles, developers associated with J.C. Rathbone and J.N. Camden in the oil industry of Wood County, in particular of the oil boom town of Volcano. Most of the papers are business correspondence, receipts and oil drilling records dealing with family owned business in Parkersburg and Volcano, namely the Zero Oil Company, the Power Oil Company, and the Jackson Land and Mining Company. There are family photographs, and records and correspondence about Volcano in which the Stiles had substantial holdings. On August 4, 1879, there was a fire in Volcano which nearly destroyed the whole town and which was presumed to be due to arson with the intent to hurt the family's financial fortune. The history of Volcano is reflected in subsequent Pinkerton reports, news clippings, and correspondence between S.B. Stiles and local historian H.E. Metheny.
  1. West Virginia and Regional History Center

White Day Glades Tannery Records, 1855/1977 0.1 Linear Feet Summary: 1 in.

White Day Glades Tannery
A ledger of customers, prices, dates and worked completed by a Taylor County tannery, mill and store owned and operated by the Corrothers family. The mill turned out a variety of leather products ranging from boots to book bindings. Included are entries on repair work particularly shoe repairs. There are also receipts of this mill with an address at McConkey, WV, especially tax receipts. Also included are photos of William A. C. Corrothers and a genealogy of his family.
  1. West Virginia and Regional History Center

William Earle Rumsey, Entomologist and Photographer, Papers, 1806/1961, bulk 1880/1937 7.75 Linear Feet (10 document cases, 5 in. each; 2 document cases, 2.5 in. each; 1 records carton, 15 in.; 5 card file boxes, 4.5 in. each; 2 oversize folders)

Rumsey, William Earle, 1865-1938

Papers of William Rumsey, WVU Agricultural Experiment Station entomologist and photographer. Initial acquisition includes correspondence from a friend at Cornell University, Rumsey's student essays and diaries (1880-1925) and family photographs. There are also glass plate negatives, and lantern slides of West Virginia University subjects, and other subjects as well.

  1. West Virginia and Regional History Center

Content Warning

ARVAS is an aggregator of archival resources. ARVAS does not have control of the descriptive language used in our members’ finding aids.

Finding aids may contain historical terms and phrases, reflecting the shared attitudes and values of the community from which they were collected, but are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical or mental ability; religion; sex; and sexual orientation and gender identity.

Many institutions and organizations are in the process of reviewing and revising their descriptive language, with the intent to describe materials in more humanizing, inclusive, and harm-reductive ways. As members revise their descriptive language, their changes will eventually be reflected in their ARVAS finding aids.